In December 2024, Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) Chief Kristin Crowley alerted Mayor Karen Bass that nearly $18 million in budget reductions would significantly impair the department’s ability to manage large-scale emergencies, including wildfires.
Chief Crowley’s memo highlighted that the cuts would “severely limit the department’s capacity to prepare for, train for, and respond to large-scale emergencies.” She emphasized that reductions in overtime funding would jeopardize pilot compliance and readiness, diminishing aerial firefighting capabilities. Additionally, the loss of funding for Heavy Equipment Operators (HEOs) would impede the creation of fire control lines and other critical wildfire mitigation efforts.
Despite these warnings, the budget cuts proceeded. In early January 2025, multiple wildfires erupted across Los Angeles, consuming tens of thousands of acres and destroying over 1,100 structures. The LAFD’s response was reportedly hampered by the previously outlined resource limitations.
Mayor Bass faced additional criticism for being abroad in Ghana during the onset of the fires. Upon her return, she defended the budget decisions, stating that the cuts were necessary due to fiscal constraints and asserting that the LAFD was still adequately equipped to handle emergencies. However, the severity of the recent wildfires has intensified scrutiny of these decisions.
The situation has sparked a broader debate about the prioritization of public safety funding and the preparedness of emergency services in the face of increasing wildfire threats. Critics argue that the budget reductions have had tangible, detrimental effects on the city’s ability to protect its residents and infrastructure.